Influence of small-scale heterogeneities on contaminant transport in fractured crystalline rock

We present a sequence of purely advective transport models that demonstrate the influence of small-scale geometric inhomogeneities on contaminant transport in fractured crystalline rock. Special weight is placed on the role of statistically generated variable fracture apertures. The fracture network geometry and the aperture distribution are based on information from an in situ radionuclide retardation experiment performed at Grimsel test site (Swiss Alps). The obtained breakthrough curves are fitted with the advection dispersion equation and continuous-time random walks (CTRW). CTRW is found to provide superior fits to the late-arrival tailing and is also found to show a good correlation with the velocity distributions obtained from the hydraulic models. The impact of small-scale heterogeneities, both in fracture geometry and aperture, on transport is shown to be considerable.     

Atmospheric lead fallout over the last century recorded in Gulf of Lions sediments (Mediterranean Sea)

Six marine sediment cores from the Gulf of Lions continental slope (700-1700 m water depth) were analyzed for stable lead isotopes and (210)Pb geochronology in order to reconstruct lead atmospheric fallout pattern during the last century. The detrital lead contribution is 25 microg g(-1) and the mean sediment anthropogenic inventory is 110+/-7 microg cm(-2), a little bit higher than atmospheric deposition estimate. Anthropogenic lead accumulation in sediments peaked in early 1970s (1973+/-2) in agreement with lead emissions features. For the period 1986-1997, the sediment signal also reflect the decrease of atmospheric lead described by independent atmospheric fallout investigations. The anthropogenic Pb deposition in the late 1990s was similar to the 1950s deposition, attesting thus of the output of European environmental policies.     

Salinity-induced survival strategy of Vibrio cholerae associated with copepods in Cochin backwaters

The occurrence of Vibrio cholerae in water, sediment and copepods was studied over a wide range of salinity using conventional and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the Cochin backwaters. V. cholerae occurred either as culturable or non-culturable form in this tropical estuary. During the pre monsoon period when high salinity prevailed (35.5psu) V. cholerae was associated with copepods only in non-culturable form, but with the onset of monsoon when lower salinity prevailed, copepod-associated-V. cholerae reverted back to culturable form. The optimum salinity range for culturability was found to be 15-20psu. This points to the fact that salinity is a major factor that which influences V. cholerae's culturability and its association with copepods in Cochin backwaters.     

The use of the marine biotic index AMBI in the assessment of the ecological status of the Obidos lagoon (Portugal)

This study reports the longitudinal distribution of sediment properties, including inorganic and organic contaminants, and the structure of the benthic community in Obidos lagoon, a coastal system permanently connected to the sea and with negligible freshwater sources. Sediments from the upper to central lagoon consist of fine particles (91%) and from the lower lagoon of sands (94%). Chemical composition is strongly correlated to the percentage of fine particles. Contamination is relatively low in those sediments suggesting the effect of diffuse sources. The increase in organic matter content from down- to upstream areas was associated with the dominance of opportunistic species, while sensitive and indifferent species to organic enrichment were mainly associated to the clean sandy downstream area. The marine biotic index (AMBI) was suitable for the discrimination of the biological and environmental gradients in the Obidos lagoon and was highly related with the gradient of organic matter content in this system.     

ANALYSIS ON PECULIARITIES OF "92.8"FLOOD EVENT IN THE LOWER YELLOW RIVER

lCOMPOSITIONOFTHE"92.8"FLOODThreerainstormsoccurredfrom7ththrough13,,,August,1992inShaanxiProvince,diStributingfromnorthtosouthinsequence.Therainfallareacoveredtheregionsofintensivesoilerosion,'wheretheaveragerateoferosionis10,000-15',000ton/kmZ'year.Fig.IshowsisohyetsofrainfallintensityinthecatchmentoftheMiddleYellowRiVerdepictingthedistributionoftherainstormsfrom7thto13,,,August,1992(thehydrologicalBureauYRCC,1992).ThecenterofthefirstrainstormwaslocatedattheYikezhaomengPrefec…     

Cross-borehole flowmeter tests for transient heads in heterogeneous aquifers

Cross-borehole flowmeter tests have been proposed as an efficient method to investigate preferential flowpaths in heterogeneous aquifers, which is a major task in the characterization of fractured aquifers. Cross-borehole flowmeter tests are based on the idea that changing the pumping conditions in a given aquifer will modify the hydraulic head distribution in large-scale flowpaths, producing measurable changes in the vertical flow profiles in observation boreholes. However, inversion of flow measurements to derive flowpath geometry and connectivity and to characterize their hydraulic properties is still a subject of research. In this study, we propose a framework for cross-borehole flowmeter test interpretation that is based on a two-scale conceptual model: discrete fractures at the borehole scale and zones of interconnected fractures at the aquifer scale. We propose that the two problems may be solved independently. The first inverse problem consists of estimating the hydraulic head variations that drive the transient borehole flow observed in the cross-borehole flowmeter experiments. The second inverse problem is related to estimating the geometry and hydraulic properties of large-scale flowpaths in the region between pumping and observation wells that are compatible with the head variations deduced from the first problem. To solve the borehole-scale problem, we treat the transient flow data as a series of quasi-steady flow conditions and solve for the hydraulic head changes in individual fractures required to produce these data. The consistency of the method is verified using field experiments performed in a fractured-rock aquifer.     

Field Relationships, Geochemistry, Zircon Ages and Evolution of a Late Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic Lower Crustal Section in the Hengshan Terrain of Northern China

The Hengshan complex forms part of the central zone of the North China Craton and consists predominantly of ductilely-deformed late Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic high-grade, partly migmatitic, granitoid orthogneisses, intruded by mafic dykes of gabbroic composition. Many highly strained rocks were previously misinterpreted as supracrustal sequences and represent mylonitized granitoids and sheared dykes. Our single zircon dating documents magmatic granitoid emplacement ages between 2.52 Ga and 2.48 Ga, with rare occurrences of 2.7 Ga gneisses, possibly reflecting an older basement. A few granitic gneisses have emplacement ages between 2.35 and 2.1 Ga and show the same structural features as the older rocks, indicating that the main deformation occurred after -2.1 Ga. Intrusion of gabbroic dykes occurred at -1920 Ma, and all Hengshan rocks underwent granulite-facies metamorphism at 1.88-1.85 Ga, followed by retrogression, sheafing and uplift. We interpret the Hengshan and adjacent Fuping granitoid gneisses as the lower, plutonic, part of a late Archaean to early Palaeoproterozoic Japan-type magmatic arc, with the upper, volcanic part represented by the nearby Wutai complex. Components of this arc may have evolved at a continental margin as indicated by the 2.7 Ga zircons. Major deformation and HP metamorphism occurred in the late Palaeoproterozoic during the Luliang orogeny when the Eastern and Western blocks of the North China Craton collided to form the Trans-North China orogen. Shear zones in the Hengshan are interpreted as major lower crustal discontinuities post-dating the peak of HP metamorphism, and we suggest that they formed during orogenic collapse and uplift of the Hengshan complex in the late Palaeoproterozoic （〈1.85 Ga）.     

日本超低频地磁场测量及关于1998年Iwateken Nairiku Hokubu地震的近期研究成果

过去对Spitak,Loma Prieta和Guam地震的研究表明,大地震发生之前都会有相应的磁场异常。为了确认这一事实并详细研究超低频（ULF）现象,日本建立了一个超低频磁力仪的监测网络,开展了包括小型台阵在内的网络观测工作。文中同时介绍了在Matsukawa台站观测到的与Iwateken Nairiku Hokubu地震（震级M6．1级,发生在1998年9月3日,震源深度为10km）相关的地磁资料。分析了4．5年的资料,并对获得的结果进行了讨论。在地震前两个星期,水平和垂直分量之间的谱密度比的（极化）变化表现出异常情况。这是在相当长的数据分析中发现的一次独特的变化,它暗示了这种异常变化可能是大地震孕育期间的一个信号。